Second-term Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam is the third Republican in as many days to announce plans to seek the party's gubernatorial nomination in 2010. Chattanooga Congressman Zach Wamp and Shelby County District Attorney Bill Gibbons also jumped into the race after presumed frontrunner former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist announced Sunday that he wouldn't seek the office. Haslam says his six years as mayor and prior executive experience in the private sector are what the state needs in such financially "critical times." The state is faced with a one-billion-dollar budget shortfall for the coming year. Haslam's morning announcement in Knoxville kicks off a two-day media tour of the Tri-Cities, Chattanooga, Nashville, Jackson and Memphis.

Lieutenant Governor Ron Ramsey has also expressed an interest in running for governor. However, he plans to wait until the end of the legislative session before making a decision. Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn is also weighing her options as to whether to run for governor or remain in Washington.